Seal for silos



March 6, 1934. A. McMAHON SEAL FOR SILOS Filed Nov. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l &

March 6, 1934. A McMAHON 1,949,572

SEAL FOR 5 ILOS Filed Nov. 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAL FOR SILOS Allen McMahon, Lena, Wis.

Application November 7, 1931, Serial No. 573,681

2 Claims. (01. 1893) This invention relates to a seal for use in a silo whereby the contents can be protected from the action of air and prevented from souring.

One of the objects is to provide a seal in the 5 form of a shiftable cover adapted normally to rest on the ensilage but which can be raised readily to give access to the material.

A further object is toprovide a device having a sealing contact with the wall of the silo.

Another object is to provide a sealing means formed of sections which can be assembled readily.

With the foregoing and otherobjects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a silo showing the sealing cover in elevation.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical section through the cover, parts being broken away.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates segmental frames each formed preferably of a length of angle metal bent to form an arcuate outer portion 2 and inwardly converging side or radial portions 3. Fastened on each frame is a segmental metal plate 4 and the frames and plates are so proportioned that when they are assembled side by side they will form a circular concavo-convex or dome-like cover the diameter of which is slightly less than the interior diameter of the silo S in which it is to be used.

A hub plate is fastened to the inner ends of plates 4 and frames 1 and has a central eyebolt 6 or the like for attachment to a hoisting cable 7 extended over a pulley 8 in the upper portion of the silo.

A packing ring 9 of sheet leather or other fiexible sealing material is fastened between the outer or curved edges of plates 4 and the arcuate portions of frames 3. The outer edge of this ring is adapted to contact with the inner surface of the silo wall.

It is to be understood that bolts 10 can be used for joining the segmental frames 3. Bolts 11 can also be used for joining the hub plate to the frames and segmental plates and for fastening said plates to the sides and ends of the frames. Thus the sealing cover can be assembled or taken apart within the silo.

Normally the seal rests on the contents of the silo and protects the same from the action of air. When it is desired to remove some of the contents the seal is raised, the proper amount removed, and the seal then lowered to normal position.

It will be understood that by raising the seal a short distance from the contents of the silo a dead air space will be formed and this will serve to prevent the contents from being affected by extreme cold.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined weight and seal for silos including segmental frames, a segmental plate secured on each frame, means for joining the frames, said frames and plates cooperating to provide a concavo-convex structure, a packing ring of flexible sheet material secured between the outer margins of the frames and plates and projecting therebeyond to constitute substantially continuations of the concavo-convex structure, said projecting portion of the ring being free for necessary flexing upwardly or downwardly during the movement of the seal within a silo, and means secured to the inner ends of the frames and plates for attachment to an elevating means.

2. A combined weight and seal for silos including an annular series of segmental frames formed of angle strips having depending flanges, a segmental sheet secured on each frame, means extending through the depending flanges of the strips at the sides of the frames for detachably connecting the frames, a packing ring secured between and extending well beyond the outer edges of the frames and plates where they are 5 unrestrained against upward and downwardly flexing, a hub plate secured to the inner ends of the frames and plates, and hoisting means connected to the hub plate.

ALLEN MCMAHON. 

